After Lance humiliated Floyd Landis at the top of Brasstown Bald @ the Tour of Georgia last year by pointing at the clock after Danielson had won the stage to clinch the GC, he gave Mr. Landis something to be pissed off about. Apparently. As evidenced by the scary way Floyd has been KICKING the entire peloton's ass in Europe and back here @ this year Tour of Georgia in any race that has over 5 stages.

Uh oh. You don't think Floyd can win the Tour de France? I do. The last American I said that about was Lance in 1999. That illicited peals of hysterical derision from my other bike weenie pals at the time.

I think Landis is ready for Prime Time. And again, you do NOT want to piss him off. You'll see.

Lots of time between now and July and some might argue that Floyd is at the top of his game now while others will peak for the Tour. My best to him, and he is doing a great job, but the other contenders are biding their time.

Anger can only motivate someone for a short time. Is Floyd racing the Giro or Dauphine? Those will be telling.

Landis has a shot, but I would put Basso, Vino, and Ullrich ahead of him.

I'd agree. But Flandis is more pissed off than those dudes. In fact Ullrich has NEVER been pissed off.

Anger can only motivate somebody for a short time? Yeah, OK. From all observations it's been motivating Floyd for about 15 years. Ask his Dad. But I do agree: he's GOT to wear those argyle socks. Particularly for the final stage if he has the lead in the GC : ).

Come on you weenies. How could you read Floyd's life story and NOT root for the guy? You can't make this stuff up. Plus he's the ugliest bike racer in American history. That TT position is smack your forehead brutal looking. But it does appear to work, eh?

Now, now, now. I think you're just trying to further fuel his anger with that comment. Floyd is no Frank Andreau, but ya gotta think - Bob Roll? Levi? - They aren't on the short list to become matinee idols either.

I like Landis alot, but I don't think he has the team to carry him to the top of the podium.
I would also have to lean towards Basso, Vino and Jan. If I had to pick a real longshot I would keep my eyes on Valverde (and that is a REAL longshot!).

Cheers,

Brian

__________________
“A good teacher protects his pupils from his own influence. ”

Armstrong knows Landis could win the Tour, and is sort of snubbing him not offering any kudos......

Phonak is fielding a 1st-rate team and you can bet they're "going for it" with respect to supporting Floyd at the Tour. But hey, it's a long way to Paris -- it's like a whole new "tour de not-Lance"... We'll see.

It's not like Floyd is sneaking up on anybody this year, but you better believe that Valverde and Basso haven't exactly been quiet in recent weeks. The only one doing any sneaking up on the Tour has been Levi. From what I gather out here is that he's been racing in California.

By the time the Dauphine and Tour of Switzerland are done, we'll have an idea of who's ready for the big time in July. It's WAY too early to say someone's peaking or not.

That said, just have so many contenders from so many teams (Floyd, Valverde, Basso, Ullrich, Levi, Vino, DiLuca, and even Cadel Evens) sets this year's Tour up to be a really sweet match of wits and talent.

True, unless you find new things to be angry about. It seemed to work for most of Lance's career: the European traditionalists, people who got his name wrong (Moreno Argentin), Cofidis management, people who credited his first Tour win to the absence of a former Tour winner in the peloton, David Walsh, French fans, etc.

Aside from all that, I'd love to see Floyd win the Tour at some point. This year, I'd like to see Ullrich win it.

Not a possible top 10, he's already done that. Good shot at the podium, and possible (although IMHO , longshot) to win the TDF one day.

Possible top ten as in another top 10 finish.

Y'all do realize that he's 31 and thus his prime GT days are coming to an end? He's got maybe two years and his shot at winning are more or less done. Only five riders older than 31 have ever won the TDF and three of them have names like Copi, Armstrong and Zoetemelk.

Were there any Bassos, Ullrichs, or Vinokourovs at ToC, TdG, etc? No. No there weren't. Its just like when the announcers said JJ Haedo was one of the fastest sprinters in the world. Um... OK but I'm pretty sure he doesn't stand a chance against an on-form Boonen, Hushovd, McEwen, Petacchi, Zabel. There are only so many sprinters in the world anyway...

Were there any Bassos, Ullrichs, or Vinokourovs at ToC, TdG, etc? No. No there weren't. Its just like when the announcers said JJ Haedo was one of the fastest sprinters in the world. Um... OK but I'm pretty sure he doesn't stand a chance against an on-form Boonen, Hushovd, McEwen, Petacchi, Zabel. There are only so many sprinters in the world anyway...

Actually, I think Haedo would acquit himself quite well against those guys. Maybe not after 220km (not yet anyway), but I think he is the real deal.

My patriotic side hopes for another american to take the TDF, but in reality I think the only shot landis has is to win the Kid Rock look-a-like contest(who ever posted the comparison pics was dead on)
Basso is going to win this year

Were there any Bassos, Ullrichs, or Vinokourovs at ToC, TdG, etc? No. No there weren't.

If the TdG becomes a UCI ProTour event, you'll see more big names there, but the fact that it conflicts with the Northern Classics means a lot of big names won't make the trip. The race did get bumped up to a higher level of race by the UCI (one step below ProTour categorization), which is a really good sign that it may have a future on the calendar.

Think about it, though, there were some major teams there like Davitamon-Lotto, which does bode well for the race's ongoing importance.

Same for ToC.... after the great crowds and the rave reviews by pros about the organization and accomodations, you may see many big names opting for California instead of Qatar or Tour Down Under. Let's hope so! Boonen v. Valverde on US soil would rock.

I think Basso is making a big mistake doing the double (Giro-TDf) I think he will falter in the last week of the tour. Jan lost 2:28 in 20K to Evans today and time is running out. Floyd has a shot as it is not really a climbers race this year. Go Floyd Go!

Landis rode very well in American and Europe this spring. It is going to be a very interesting TdF. More than a couple of guys have a shot at it. It goes without saying that it may well be decided by whose team supports him best. But it may also be decided by something like Valverde's knee, Basso's stomach, Jan following the team car too closely, George's bike etc. It will be fun to watch

Landis rode very well in American and Europe this spring. It is going to be a very interesting TdF. More than a couple of guys have a shot at it. It goes without saying that it may well be decided by whose team supports him best. But it may also be decided by something like Valverde's knee, Basso's stomach, Jan following the team car too closely, George's bike etc. It will be fun to watch

Seriously. What makes all you experts so eager to dismiss Floyd's chances? Like any of these other mopes ever WON the Tour de France. And you can take 'but Basso was 2nd twice' stuff and wipe your ass with it. Ullrich did that for what? 5 years in a row? He never won after 1997 either. Guys that WIN the Tour generally ramp up their game to the next level and suddenly they're kicking everyone's ass in July in France. Duh. That's how most Tour winners have 'appeared'.

Did anyone see Floyd match Danielson stroke for stroke on Brasstown Bald? Like ANYONE's going to drop HIM in the Alps this summer. I really don't think so weenies.

Did anyone see Floyd match Danielson stroke for stroke on Brasstown Bald?

That was AWESOME. Floyd played Tom like a fiddle. They were damn near track-standing all the way up! Other riders were just trying to get to the top and these two were playing mind games. Outstanding.

And they were obviously the freshest climbers by the time they got to Brasstown from the way that Popo would catch them due to the cat/mouse game they were playing, but then they'd pass Popo who would crack again. Not taking away from Popo's climbing talent because he was working for Danielson to keep Tom fresh for the climb.

I think Floyd's got the goods to compete for top spots in the TdF in July, but do you all think Phonak can control a race like Disco, CSC, or T-Mobile could? I don't know the answer to that, yet, but they did get Floyd into the position to hang with the big teams in Georgia, Paris-Nice, and California. France is a different beast, though, which is why July is going to be so cool to see how things unfold.